Mining of cryptocurrencies will be banned in Russia’s Kursk border region.

According to Bits.media, Russia’s Government Legislative Committee approved, on May 18, a proposal to ban cryptocurrency mining in parts of the Kursk region along the border. Kursk Regional Governor Alexander Sinyutin announced the decision during a regional government meeting. The ban will cover eight districts and the city of Lgov, including Belovsky, Bolshesoldatsky, Glushkovsky, and others. The primary reason for the ban is that residents in these border areas are exempt from paying utility bills—including electricity—meaning that if mining were permitted, the associated electricity costs would fall on the federal budget, creating a fiscal burden. Additionally, ongoing attacks by Ukrainian armed forces and difficulties repairing infrastructure have strained local energy supplies. The governor stated that the ban could be lifted once the situation returns to normal, residents return home, and utility payments resume—but no specific timeline was provided.